Guide to Bathroom Renovations

Author: Service Central

A bathroom renovation is one of the largest renovation projects that you can undertake, and when done well a bathroom renovation can add substantial value to your home. A bathroom renovation can bring a home built in yesteryear up to date, or add the luxury of an ensuite to your bedroom increasing your living standards dramatically. The key to a successful bathroom renovation is thorough research and finding the right bathroom renovation company for you.

What is a bathroom renovation company?

A bathroom renovation is a major project and consequently requires someone with a builders licence to complete it. When meeting and interviewing bathroom renovation companies it is essential that you ask to see their builders licence, and ask for their guidance on what council permits may be required. That said, bathroom renovators can come from many walks of life. A bathroom renovation involves a variety of tradespeople including plumbers, electricians, plasterers, tilers, carpenters, painters, and cabinet makers. A good bathroom renovator is able to project manage all of these different types of tradespeople, and often has come from a background as a tradesperson as well.

What does an bathroom renovation company do?

There is a wide variety of bathroom renovation projects that can be undertaken, ranging from small bathroom renovations to home extensions to extend the home to add a whole new bathroom. Some common job requests include:

Full bathroom renovation.
Building an ensuite.
Installation of a new shower or bath.
Installation of a spa bath.
Building a new bathroom vanity.
Bathroom tiling.
Resurfacing of bath and shower.
Waterproofing.

In undertaking bathroom renovations, bathroom renovation companies need to be skilled in tasks such as:

Bathroom design.
Demolition and removal of old bathroom.
Plastering and waterproofing.
Plumbing for the installation of taps, basins, showers, baths, spas and toilets.
Electricial work for the installation of lights, fans and heaters.
Glaziers for the installation of shower screens, mirrors and splashbacks.
Cabinet making for the building of a vanities and cupboards.
Tiling and painting for the completion of the bathroom.

How much does it cost to renovate a bathroom?

Typically a bathroom renovation would cost between $9,000 and $25,000 depending on a number of factors such as:

Size of the bathroom.
Specifications of the work that is required.
The building materials that are used.
The choice of fittings such as taps, showerheads, etc.

An ensuite would normally cost less than a bathroom renovation.

An option to reduce the cost of a bathroom renovation is to use tradespeople for the tasks that most require a skilled and licenced tradesperson, such as:

Plumbing installations.
Electrical installations.
Installation of showerscreens and mirrors.

NOTE: Many first time Do-It-Yourselfers are often surprised by how difficult bathroom renovation projects are to do on your own. Tasks such as waterproofing and tiling are often much more complicated than they seem. To save time and distress it can often be best to hire a professional to complete the whole bathroom renovation.

What to consider before starting a bathroom renovation

Before you rush off to speak to a bathroom renovation company and ask for quotes it is very important to have done your research. The variety of bathroom renovation options can be overwhelming including the infinite choices of baths, showers, toilets, taps, showerheads, tiles, paint colours, mirrors, splashbacks, etc. The more firm you are in what you require from your bathroom renovation, the more likely you will be of getting that bathroom that you've always wanted.

The key to obtaining the most competitive bathroom renovation prices is detailed specifications. When specifying what you require, take into account:

The size of bathroom. How wide, how long, and how high is the bathroom?
The bathroom products that you would like installed and their price range. Why types of baths, showers, basins, vanities would you like? Which price point is best for you (mid-range, top of the line, etc)?
The bathroom fixtures that you would like. What types of taps, showerheads, etc? What price points?
The tiles, glass, mirrors and painting that you would like.

As you can see there can be a wide variety of different combinations and different price points for each option, making the costing of a bathroom renovation vary wildly. Without detailed specifications the costs can get out of hand very easily.

How to find a bathroom renovation company

Service Central makes it easy to find a bathroom renovator. Simply list a job request for a bathroom renovation with Service Central and they will find the right local bathroom renovation company for you. Service Central will notify the local bathroom renovation companies, and those that are available and interested in your bathroom renovation project will call you back.

What to ask a bathroom renovation company

A bathroom renovation is a major project and consequently you should provide your clear specification with a number of bathroom renovation companies to obtain comparative quotes.

When speaking to the various bathroom renovation companies, you should consider:

Whether they have a builders licence.
What tradespeople they use (i.e. Electricians, plumbers, etc) and how long they have been using them for.
What suppliers they use, and how long they have been using them for. If they have recently changed, is this because of a good reason or because they didn't pay their bill.
Pictures they have of other bathroom renovations they have completed.
Testimonials of their bathroom renovation customers.
Whether they are insured to cover an potential personal and property damage.

How to choose a bathroom renovation company

By supplying clear specifications and obtaining a number of quotes from bathroom renovators you should be able to compare prices like for like. You should then also take into consideration their quality and professionalism. If the bathroom renovation company is registered with Service Central then you're able to view their online profile and read ratings and feedback that they have received about their previous bathroom renovation projects. Taking into account both price and quality the decision should become clear as to which bathroom renovation company is right for you.

Other things to consider during a bathroom renovation

During and after your bathroom renovation, you may also wish to consider:

How you are going to keep your home functioning during the renovation. Some people choose to hire a mobile onsuite service (effectively an ensuite on a trailer) so that they have a fully functional bathroom whilst the bathroom renovation is happening. Other people organise to stay with friends or family during key parts of the bathroom renovation.
Paying for the bathroom renovation. Will you require finance? What payments will you make to the bathroom renovator? How can you ensure that the final payment is not made before the project is completed to your satisfaction?
What permits and certificates are required if you ever needed to sell the home?

More Articles: Service Central helps repair storm damaged Melbourne

Melbourne has turned to Service Central to help repair the damage done by the massive storms that hit the city this Labour Day weekend. Service Central's army of tradespeople have helped Melbournians repair their hail damaged homes, fix leaking roofs, and mop up all of the water left after the weekends deluge. Read on for the full details. Read More...

Autumn checklist for your home

Summer has flown by and its already time to start thinking about having the last evening bbq's with friends and family and preparing for the cooler months ahead. Shortly the leaves will start changing colour and falling to the ground as the days grow shorter and shorter. With the right preparation you can relax in the full knowledge that your home is ready for Autumn. Read More...

Video: Troubleshooting toilet problems

A down to earth video of common toilet problems and how to fix them. Read More...

How to fix a toilet that won't flush

A video guide to how to fix a toilet that won't flush. You'll be back using that toilet again in no time. Read More...

How to change a tap washer

A quick and easy video guide as to how to change a tap washer and put an end to those leaky taps around your home. Read More...

How to fix a leaking tap

A video guide to how to fix a leaking tap. Read More...

Questions to ask a Tradesperson

A tradesperson's answers to your questions can give you a good sense of whether you could work with him or her. Here's a list of questions to help you work out which tradesperson is best for you. Read More...

And the Top 10 Services for 2009 are ....

The results are in. Drum roll please ...... In 2009 Service Central generated 48,665 new jobs, read on to see which services were the most popular! Read More...

Home Energy Guzzlers

A number of appliances around your home may be consuming too much energy, making your energy bills (and carbon footprint) higher than they should be! There are three main appliances that are responsible for the majority of people's energy costs, but with a few simple ideas you could notice big savings in your energy bills. Read More...

Preparing for Christmas

Are you ready for Christmas? Hosting Christmas at your place can take months in preparation, especially if you're home isn't up to it. Is your kitchen big enough? Can your oven cook a Christmas meal for 20 people? Do you need a 2nd or even 3rd toilet? Is there somewhere for everyone to go outside? All these questions and more and addressed in this guide to preparing for Christmas. Read More...

Tips to Reduce the Cost of Bathroom Renovations

While a complete bathroom renovation will add substantial value to your home, it can also cost you a lot of money. Here are a number of ways that you can help you to reduce the cost of your bathroom renovations. Read More...

How to find a Plumber

Finding a plumber is made easy with this simple video from Australia's Hottest Tradie... However if you'd like to save yourself the cost of the cement feel free to post a job here with Service Central. Read More...

Plumbing Secrets

This funny video of plumbing tips will let you in on a few of the Aussie tradies' secrets you never knew... Read More...

Plumbing Tips from a Hot Chick

A new face has taken to the stage in plumbing tip videos. This hot chick has all the answers, along with the plumber's crack. Watch this funny video and see for yourself. Read More...

Plumbing Advertising Gone Wrong

This plumbing commercial shows a different level of creativity I don't think I'd ever seen before... Take a look for yourself. Read More...

How to install a shelf

An easy video guide to installing a shelf. Read More...

Top Home Improvement Investments

Considering a home improvement? Check out the top 6 home improvements across Australia. Read More...

How to tile a wall

A video guide to tiling a wall. Read More...

How to wallpaper around corners

A video guide to how to wallpaper around corners. Read More...

How to wallpaper

A video guide to how to hang wallpaper. Read More...

How to prepare a wall for wallpaper

A quick and easy video guide to how to prepare a wall for wallpaper. Read More...

Questions to ask a Tradesperson

A tradesperson's answers to your questions can give you a good sense of whether you could work with him or her. Here's a list of questions to help you work out which tradesperson is best for you. Read More...

When you need a subbie fast who do you think of?

A great story on how a builder turned a customer complaint into a revelation. When Bruce Ahchow, CEO of Service Central, chased up a customer complaint about a builder taking too long to complete a project he found out that a sick renderer was holding up the whole project. Learn how he solved the problem in 5 minutes and left both the customer and the builder happy. Read More...

Summer Renovation Ideas

As the first sunny days appear and winter fades into the distant past we're reminded of the hot summer days ahead. How are you prepared for this summer? To help you out Service Central has put together a list of summer renovation ideas for your home. Read More...

Preparing for Christmas

Are you ready for Christmas? Hosting Christmas at your place can take months in preparation, especially if you're home isn't up to it. Is your kitchen big enough? Can your oven cook a Christmas meal for 20 people? Do you need a 2nd or even 3rd toilet? Is there somewhere for everyone to go outside? All these questions and more and addressed in this guide to preparing for Christmas. Read More...

Guide to Building an Extension

Building an extension to your home can be a great way to get the space you want without having the expenses and hassles of selling your home and finding a new one. In this guide to building a home extension we explore the pro's and cons and seek to lay out the general process to follow when extending your home. Read More...

Tips to Reduce the Cost of Kitchen Renovations

A kitchen renovation is a major investment in your home. In this guide we explore different ways that you could reduce the cost of a kitchen renovation without necessarily reducing the quality of the end result. Read More...

Hamish & Andy and Service Central

During a recent "Hamish and Andy" segment, a friend of theirs was on air with what he thought was a brilliant new invention. He was going to create a website that would allow people to log jobs that they needed doing and providers would then call them if they were able to do the work. This sounded a little too familiar to some of the listeners... Read More...

Guide to Kitchen Renovations

A kitchen renovation can make an amazing difference to the look and feel of your home. It can enhance your living standards and makes your day to day life so much easier. They key to a successful kitchen renovation is thorough research and finding the right kitchen renovation company for you. Read More...

15 Reasons why Renovating may cost more than you think

The most important part to planning a home renovation is to plan your budget first. However there are lots of problems that may arise midway through your renovation that you simply hadn't thought of and included in your original budget. This article looks at what some of those problems may be. Read More...

Service Central helps repair storm damaged Melbourne

Melbourne has turned to Service Central to help repair the damage done by the massive storms that hit the city this Labour Day weekend. Service Central's army of tradespeople have helped Melbournians repair their hail damaged homes, fix leaking roofs, and mop up all of the water left after the weekends deluge. Read on for the full details. Read More...

Questions to ask a Tradesperson

A tradesperson's answers to your questions can give you a good sense of whether you could work with him or her. Here's a list of questions to help you work out which tradesperson is best for you. Read More...

Tips to Reduce the Cost of Bathroom Renovations

While a complete bathroom renovation will add substantial value to your home, it can also cost you a lot of money. Here are a number of ways that you can help you to reduce the cost of your bathroom renovations. Read More...

Want to contribute an article or have a good story? Email it to enquiries@servicecentral.com.au for submission. Service Central reserves the right to edit articles as necessary.